This chapter covers various approaches and diagnostic methods currently in use for diagnosis of parasitic infections. If clinical specimens have been properly collected and processed according to specific specimen rejection and acceptance criteria, the examination of prepared wet mounts, concentrated specimens, permanent stained smears, blood films, and various culture materials provides detailed information leading to parasite identification and confirmation of the suspected etiologic agent. Although other tests such as immunoassay and amplification-based diagnostic kits continue to become available commercially, most medical parasitology diagnostic work depends on the knowledge and microscopy skills of the microbiologist.

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